Bike Adventure, Malta by Aldozb

Malta Cycling Holiday

Malta is better known for its azure oceans and blonde beaches than its cycling tracks. However, alongside the coast and more inland, tourists are spoilt for choice with a selection of intimate cycling trails. Malta’s sister island of Gozo also offers a unique cycling holiday for couples. Because it is a small island, only 7km by 12km, the entire area can be explored by bicycle in a single day. Gozo has three hills inland, which provide a spectacular view of the entire island and the blue waters beyond. A circular coastal route is only 25km long, and will take you and your partner past seaside villages, cliff tops and ancient temples. For a romantic cycling holiday, Malta will not fail to reward.

Majorca Cycling Holiday

The island of Majorca has become a well known cycling holiday destination over the past few years, in addition to being the picture perfect bucket and spade beach holiday for the entire family. Its reputation recently received a massive boost when Team Great Britain used the north of Majorca as a winter training site. Majorca as a European cycling holiday destination has something for the entire family. The Tramuntana Mountains boast trails that are ideal for amateurs and enthusiasts alike. North eastern Majorca is often considered to be the best region for a cycling holiday. The terrain is largely flat and is also well sign posted, making trails both accessible and safe to use. Bicycle shops are dotted all over the island.

Amsterdam Cycling Holiday

For a more urban cycling holiday, you simply cannot go wrong with Amsterdam. The Dutch capital is well known for its overzealous cyclists, who along with the pedestrians rule the streets. Amsterdam is small compared to most small cities, meaning that attractions are easily accessible. Try cycle south west of the main tourist area to access the larger museums and parks by bicycle. If you’re searching for a cultural infusion and a cycling holiday in one, Amsterdam is your number one spot.

Penny Munroe is an avid travel writer. Articles include Malta holiday must see landmarks to the best restuarnts in Paris.

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Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is a Mediterranean nation, which for centuries was influenced by Roman, Arab and British culture. We can find a large minority of foreigners, most of which are represented by the British. Most inhabitants live on Malta‘s main island in the cities. Almost all the people belong to the Roman Catholic Church. On the island there are over 360 churches and at every step you can meet monks or nuns. Catholicism plays an important part of Maltese life.

The most important source of income in Malta is tourism, which also employs a third of the population. Malta and nearby islands to visit for over a million tourists a year. Tourism is therefore 35% of the gross domestic product. Malta has no own sources of raw materials, and is dependent on imports. Agriculture is concentrated on the island of Gozo, where we find more greenery and better conditions for growing wheat, barley, potatoes, legumes, vegetables, citrus fruit and grapes. In the summer season, vegetables need to be imported, because there is a very dry climate. Industrial production is focused on engineering products, electronics, shipbuilding and ship repair and textiles.

Malta is known for its numerous and well-preserved monuments from the times of megalithic culture. This leads to the assertion that this developed culture lived on the island already between 4000 to 2500 BC. Then the island had many different cultures: the Phoenicians, Carthage, Rome, Byzantium, Arabs, Normans, kings of Castile, Johannes and Napoleon. During the world wars, Malta became an important base for the British forces in the Mediterranean Sea. Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1964, became a republic in 1974 and in 2004 became a member of the European Union.

The Maltese archipelago acts on the map as the small grains in the Mediterranean Sea, and yet form an important bridge between Europe and Africa. The Maltese archipelago is essentially a remnant of the connection between Sicily and North Africa coast, which was aborted in the late Tertiary. Malta is only 90 km away from Sicily and 200 km from Tunisia.

The islands are almost without vegetation, but Malta is interesting anyway. Indeed, the mythical Odysseus reportedly stuck here for seven long years. It is a paradise for divers and water sports enthusiasts, history and art lovers and you can enjoy here good food, drink and social life as well.

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